COTM 07 Second (and Final) spoiler.

rrau said:
In my game it was on purpose. I kept switching allies for my fake wars around to keep one AI from becoming too powerful.

Yes, in this game I observed the highest number of civs that survived to the end – only 5 were eliminated, 6 survived. Victory type was domination. Only three were extinguished by Austrians.
Very peacfull game for domination ;)
 
Charles sat looking at the communiqué, once again Russian troops were moving into Austrian lands. “This has to stop,” he thought and with a stroke of his pen, an order was created that would soon result in a Russian declaration of war on Austria. Charles was not concerned, having a stronger military and access to both iron & horses, which Russia did not, meant soon Russian cites would be flying the red and white of Austria.

After the fall of three of her cities, Catherine was relieved to finally receive a messenger from Charles. The price was steep, engineering and two cities, but at least she survived. Charles was able to parlay engineering into monotheism and feudalism and once again he led the known world in technology. A few more trades, including sending iron to the Ottomans added theology and chivalry to the Austrian list of technologies.

News from a wandering traveler that the once proud Incan nation was no longer around surprised Charles. “It looks like there is a powerhouse nation somewhere else on this planet” he thought, “with luck, we’ll never need to do battle with them.”

Charles and his generals stood surveying the map and finally, he looked up and said “Germany is where we’ll strike next. They will provide a single front for attacking and lack horses and should fall to our knights.

Charles could not believe his good fortune. Hamburg fell to his knights with little resistance and as his troops completed the siege of Berlin, new came that Leipzig had just completed Sun Tzu’s War Academy. Having gained the Temple of Artemis in Berlin, his cities soon began filling in unclaimed lands. The city of Nuremburg fell before his luck briefly turned bad, with a peasant revolt in Berlin, destroying his garrison. The presumed loss, turned quickly into a gain as an Elite Swordsman in route to the front killed the German spearman in Berlin and Mack, the first Great Leader of Austria was born. With a knight army leading the troops, Frankfurt was taken despite a defending musket and the army advanced on Leipzig. Once again the peasants of Berlin arose, killing the elite sword garrison and again the city had to be retaken. With the fall of Leipzig and another great leader, Kaiser Wilhelm, was willing to give up gunpowder (invention had been acquired in a wine & cash deal with France earlier) and one of the two sources (Spain had the other) of saltpeter was found next to Hamburg. Charles was now content to let his nation regroup and grow via culture. Peace and prosperity was now the order of the day, with only a brief skirmish that would lead to the end of Russia on the planet. With a near island monopoly on iron, Charles was able to deal for cash and technology from France and the Ottomans. Chemistry, Printing press, Education, Astronomy and Banking soon were added to the Austrian libraries. Once again news was received from a traveler that the once proud Mayans were no more.

Charles called his generals to a quick meeting, “Rumors of potential uprisings in Berlin and Leipzig have made the decision that Germany will need to be removed from our island.” With Austrian knight Armies leading the way, the final three German cities on the continent were quickly conquered and Germany was now a single city on a nearby island. At the dedication of the Forbidden Palace in Salzburg, Charles was delighted to hear the military was training elite knights to shed their armor and pick up rifles and would soon be providing him with a new weapon of conquest.

Finally, an emissary from across the ocean greeted Charles and after an exchange of gold and maps, it became quite clear that Montezuma of the Aztecs was in the process of claiming the entire island.

With new technologies acquired from France, Spain and the Ottomans, Austria began building a powerful cavalry and would soon need a victim to try it out on. Germany was much too weak and the Ottomans and French were valuable trading partners, so Rome drew the short straw.

Using a quick strike to raze Pompeii (located at the base of Mount Etna), Caesar was deprived of his saltpeter. However, the site soon exhausted it’s supply of the valuable mineral and to the dismay of Charles a new source would be found just inside the Ottoman border. Fearing a Rome-Ottoman alliance, after capturing four Roman cities and another great leader, Charles signed peace with Caesar getting Theory of Gravity, which he then sold to the Ottomans. Following the discovery of economics, Charles was able to trade his way into the Industrial Age. Soon it would be time for Rome to exit the scene. The completion of Newton’s University in Rome made the target more tempting. Then Spain with Leonardo’s Workshop, Magellan’s Voyage and three other wonders would be next, but that tale will have to wait until later.
 
Strange Game. I lost in a space race victory by the Iroquois in 1828. The Ottomans were second, I was third. Everyone else was eliminated. I had over 30 cities in a patchwork of space surrounded by the ottomans. The Iroquois had the entire other continent. I was researching theology when the Iroquois won. I survived by being nice to all and granting much needed right of passage to everyone as they fought countless wars across my land.
 
[c3c] 1.22f - Open Class

After the Ancient Age, I played GOTM38 before continuing this one. I was squeezed between France and Germany. I fully expected to be their next victim.

One thing I noticed in hindsight, the Maya had built the Lighthouse and had made the crossing to found a colony on the island off the west coast. Contacts were freely traded between the continents leaving very little opportunity to monopolize trade between continents.

I entered the MA around 110BC. I had 22 Horsemen plus few Warrior/Swordsmen after a 7 turn anarchy which ended in 70AD. This is where I left off. When I came back to it I decided to go down fighting. To my surprise I was able to attack Germany and maintain a ROP assisted peace with France throughout. Wars down south kept everyone else out except Rome who where the only ones I could bribe to help me.

dsv_c07_70ad.JPG


Wars
Germany 170AD - 320AD
Germany 530AD - 610AD
--- Chivalry 630AD ---
Rome 900AD - 910AD (eliminated)
France 900AD - 1020AD (eliminated)
--- Hussar 1150AD ---
Ottoman 1070AD - 1190AD (eliminated)
Spain 1140AD - 1250AD (eliminated)
Germany 1255AD - 1315AD (eliminated)

dsv_c07_maps.JPG


After that I had a several wars with the Iroquois & Aztecs over remainder of game. Just some minor invasions by Iroquois. They were easy to handle with artillery and Hussars. Eventually I took the off shore island.

I tried for a Diplomatic win. I built the UN in 1665AD but I was at war with Iroquois and Aztecs and could only get MA and polite with two of the other three. I decided not to chance an election. After that the Iroquois gradually conquered the other civs. There never was a another opportunity to win a vote.

After that it was just a research race for spaceship. I beat the Iroquois there without any problem as their continued wars kept them busy. I think I averaged 5 turn research often running a deficit.

Software Version: C3C 1.22 for Windows
Entry class: open
Game status: Spaceship Victory for Austria
Game date: 1820 AD
Firaxis score: 6946
Jason score: 6880
Time played: 30:41:21

dsv_c07_end.JPG
 
Continued on quest for 100K.
AA 4000BC - 0670BC.
MA 0670BC - 1425AD, stop w/ 100K cultural win

Never got Education. France had built ToA. After defeating Germany and Russia (down to 1 city each) I went after France and captured the ToA in Paris. The Great Lighthouse had already been built by the Iroquois, so I decided my continent would have to be enough as I really wanted to capitalize on the ToA. Rome was my biggest worry. As we had an alliance and a RoP aggreement, they were easy to defeat when I put 40 knights in their territory, broke the aggreement, and took 6 cities in one turn. After mopping them up, only the weak Spanish remained to be assimilated.

470AD - first time in cultural lead w/ 2973 culture, Iriquois is #2, but I will soon be making over double what they make so no worries
540AD - finally consolidate continent. Will not go after the other continent as I'd have to get Education, which I don't want to do. No one on my continet made contact, so they don't know how bad I've been. :cool:

Now my focus is on rushing Settlers to finish filling in the rest of the land. Seems doubly appropriate as each settler is really worth 2 culture with ToA, so I figure 15sh/cul for a city/temple and 26.7sh/cul for libraries. Actually started doing this when I had 50 knights and they were easily sweeping through all comers.

690AD - soon after Iriquois demand a territory map, they take an open spot on the NE island.
750AD - finally get a Map of the World, though I had sent a few ships to get a general outline of the other continent much earlier, I didn't realize how much bigger our continent was. MapStat now shows me only 170 grids short of a domination victory.
800AD - finally build my last city; thanks to ToA my culture is really high, even with no chance of building Universities (in the end I only was able to construct a few Cathedrals and Collisiums only in my core cities); 17157 culture w/ 650 per turn; focus is on rushing libraries

1000AD - reach 32289 culture; Iriquois at 11134 culture, but I am making well more than double what they are making

Trading is awesome during this time period when I can do it. Started with Iriquois and finally spread to the others, Maya being last. At one point I was making over 200g/turn just by trading my luxuries to the 'Americas'. I only traded for gold so I could rush libraries faster.

1110AD - finally reack 1K culture/turn
1180AD - finally surpass 50K culture

Around 1200AD the Aztec decide to attack with a whopping 2 pieces (and then again 2 later), but it wakes me up to the fact that 40 knights won't help when the others probably have cavalry. At about 1280AD the Iriquois attack with multiple cavalry wiping me off the West Island. All cities that were doing wealth switch to musketmen. Lots of wheeling and dealing cause a world war. Soon my enemies offer me piece and I abandon my allies as it really seemed like an 'American' continent problem to me. :mischief: This made it impossible to trade luxuries for immediate gold, but they would still trade /t gold for /t lux.

1350AD - reach 82065 culture; check to see if I can speed up the finish as I'm rushing Cathedrals at this point. Can't rush them fast enough, so I switch to rushing harbors for a few cities for some extra happy people. Also switch back and forth from 100% tax to 100% lux as money permits. Get tired of moving my workers so I automate them just for fun. Boy are they stupid. :crazyeye:

1425AD - over 100K culture, even though I still haven't reached Education (37% literate I'm told) and I've seen the Iriquois start constructing Universal Suffrage, all 'America' nations bow down to the Austrian superior culture. We are their vacation spot and they are in awe. Of course, they are still bickering with each other.

Ainwood, thanks for a great and challenging map. I thought 11 enemies would make it impossible, but by playing them off of each other, it actually made it easier to capture my continent and work against the other continent who I thought might pulverize me after I decided not to advance my tech very far. Keep up the great work. Looking forward to seeing COTM08, where I will try a different victory condition. I'm cultured out. Don't know if I'll get time for GOTM38.
 
swordsman_small.gif
(predator)

Going for 20K culture.

Link to Ancient Age spoiler

For much of the Middle Ages I stayed at peace, working on my 20K city, building up my cities and my culture, and giving in to extortion demands. I wouldn't go into war mode until I had Hussars.

Since I had the Great Library, my research at the start of the Middle Ages consisted of waiting for things to pop up :) I got Feudalism, Monotheism, Engineering, Chivalry, Theology, and in 320AD got both Gunpowder aand Education ending the Great Library's usefulness. At that point I began researching toward Military Tradition.

I learned Chemistry in 400AD, Metallurgy in 490AD (delayed a bit while I saved funds to rush a university in my 20K city), and Military Tradition in 560AD. During this time I traded for Banking, Music Theory, Astronomy, and Navigation.

That ended my peaceful phase. Germany was my first target because she had the Pyramids. I upgraded 14 Knights to Hussars and in 570AD invaded Germany, triggering my Golden Age.

Here's how my world looked just before I invaded Germany:

sirplebc07-2a.jpg


This map's cramped start combined with my working toward a 20K goal had resulted in a very slow start. I still knew little of the world and I controlled a very small amount of land for this far into a game, i.e. 560AD.

In 610AD I was informed that the Inca had been destroyed, and in the same turn Spain made contact with the other continent. I traded for contacts, maps, gold, and luxuries. The remote Civs were a bit behind in tech and thus were easy to trade with.

In 640AD I'd reduced Germany to one island town. I decided to send units to take it - didn't want to give Germany peace due to the risk of captured cities flipping back.

In 650AD I learned Free Artistry. Not a tech I normally research but in this game Shakespeare's was a high priority for me and I'd focused research on that path since learning Military Tradition. I was able to trade for Physics, Theory of Gravity, and Magnetism, and thus entered the Industrial Age at this date. The Ottomans already knew Steam Power. I gifted Russia forward hoping to see another free tech but she also got Steam Power. I decided to research Medicine and trade with them later.

I got one leader while fighting Germany and used him to rush Forbidden Palace in my 20K city.

In 670AD I eliminated Germany and my world looked like this:

sirplebc07-2b2.jpg


Golden Age production was great of course. My forces had grown to 28 Hussars, a fair number of them elite. I immediately invaded France. I got another leader right away and used him to form a Hussar army.

In 710AD I'd reduced France to a single island city. In 730AD I took that and eliminated her.

I'd gotten a 3rd leader while fighting France. At this point I could have invaded Russia but decided to slow the pace a bit. I wanted to save the leader for rushing a small wonder in my 20K city after it finished its current build. And didn't want to start my next invasion until I'd used the leader.

I learned Medicine, then Sanitation, and then in 770AD decided to get things moving again - traded for Steam Power and started research of Industrialization. (Not following my more usual path to Replaceable Parts first because I wanted a factory in my 20K city.)

In 770AD I invaded Russia. I was up to 41 Hussars and Russia had no saltpeter so this was a piece of cake - I eliminated Russia in 800AD.

After a pause to heal and regroup I invaded the Ottomans in 850AD. By 910AD she had just one city left but I'd have to go through Rome to reach it. In 920AD I invaded Rome. Eliminated Ottomans in 950AD and eliminated Rome in 970AD.

That left just Spain on the home continent. I invaded her in 990AD and eliminated her in 1050AD.

During that war America landed a couple of units on my shore. I told her to leave and she declared.

In 1070AD almost my entire military set sail for America. I'd been losing units a bit faster than I built new ones during recent wars. Still the invasion fleet was quite strong consisting of 4 Hussar armies (3 Hussars in each) and 20 additional Hussars.

In 1090AD the Iroquois declared on me, treacherously reneging on about 130gpt in payments. So I attacked America and Iroquois at the same time. I had to deal with a few culture flips during this phase, one of which cost me an army I'd foolishly left in a city to heal. It took a while to slug through the defenders, becoming noticeably harder when the Iroquois got Nationalism and started defending with Riflemen. But of course the result was never in doubt. In 1250AD I eliminated America and my world looked like this:

sirplebc07-2c.jpg


I was approaching the domination limit and it was mop-up time.

I prepared a "final repose" town in the southern tundra and gave it to Aztecs before invading them.

In 1265 I eliminated Iroquois. In 1290AD eliminated Maya, and in 1305 gave the Aztecs peace after reducing them to their single final town.

Finally, a long phase of milking while I squeezed out the last bits of culture I could.

I'd continued researching while fighting. In 1300AD I learned Flight and entered Modern Times. I researched onward, all the way through Modern Times to enable the last few wonders in the game.

I finally reached a 20K victory in 1832AD. Not a spectacular date. I think I did well in all but the Ancient Age. But late wonders are not nearly as important for a 20K victory as early ones. I traded off a bit in Ancient Times for better progress toward a high scoring game. And therefore expect my 20K date will be beaten.

Culture improvements in Innsbruck were:
Code:
[I] date   improvement         comment[/I]
1700BC  Temple              built
 250BC  Great Library       built
 210BC  Library             cash
 170BC  Cathedral           cash
  90BC  Colosseum           cash
 440AD  Sistine	Chapel      built
 460AD  University          cash
 660AD  Shakespeare's       built
 670AD  Forbidden Palace    leader
 770AD  Newton's            built
 780AD  Heroic Epic         leader
 950AD  Universal Suffrage  built    
1030AD  Theory Of Evolution built
1040AD  Military Academy    leader
1130AD  Hoover Dam          built
1180AD  Pentagon            built
1240AD  Wall Street         built
1320AD  SETI                built
1325AD  Research Lab        cash
1380AD  United Nations	    built
1390AD  Battlefield Med.    leader
1435AD  Longevity           built
1480AD  Cure For Cancer	    built
1505AD  Apollo Program	    built
1550AD  Manhattan Project   built
1575AD  Intelligence Agency built
1705AD  Missile Defence	    built
 
Open class

A quick post about my game: I switched in the middle of a domination game to diplo, because I wanted to be able to submit without spending too much time. This left me in the unusual situation of tech-ing in Monarchy. Surprisingly money was never a problem and the early conquests (Russia, France, Germany and Rome) had left me with a decent sized land. Again I was counting on the AI to help me a bit in the Indutrial Age (America and Ottoman) but in the end they only got me one but their money was nice. Even the Age change saw the Ottoman getting only Medicine. :cringe: In the later stages I eliminated the Inca and the Aztecs and America saw off the Iroquois. So all the AI I had warred with during the game were dead, so I didn't need any tricks to make them vote for me (OK, they all received one free tech... ;)) but no war to the main opponent (Osman) and MA against them were needed. Needless to say the vote was unanimous (except for Osman of course).

All this got me my quickest played GotM game so far (26 hours) and just over 7300 Jason points.
 
swordsman_small.gif
(predator)


After entering the middle ages I immediately started a bee-line for MT, 'cause I needed to trigger a GA (and wonders were unavailable for me) and I needed to start conquering some, if I was going to get a conquest win.

During the peaceful research period Moscow built the Great Library. I lost 2 town to the Germans via culture flips. While I researched the lower tech path the AI's on my continent went for the upper path as they kept trying to trade me theology for gunpowder, which I, off course delayed as much as possible. A suicide galley met the Iroquois across the ocean but it sank before meeting any others and I had no spare resources to send other galleys. This did provide me with a trading partner, to fund my research though.

In 420 AD I discovered MT and I immediately upgraded 15-20 horseman to hussars. I switched to 90% tax and then I attacked Germany ('cause Berlin had the Pyramids). They fell swiftly before Austria's might, so the Russians (Great Library were next). Barring one culture flip this was even easier, so I decided to chance a second frontline and I attacked the Romans. Russia's demise gave me the Great Library and with it Theology, Chivalry, Education, Astronomy and Banking. At this point I did a swift 4-turn research run at navigation for safe ocean passage after which I went back to 90% tax and cashrushing hussars (and caravels). Rome also fell swiftly so I turned my attention to the most powerful of the AI's on my continent: the Ottomans. This war was much more difficult but the Ottomans finally bit the dust in 620 AD. During mop up action of the Ottoman war I attacked the Spanish, which died in 630 AD giving me possession of the entire continent and the two small island near the formerly Ottoman and German homeland.
Off course I wasn't satisfied here, so I had sent out three fleets laden with Hussars I didn't need for mopping up the Ottomans and the Spanish a two turns previous and I landed near the Aztecs in 640 AD. They had only 4 cities left, so my other two fleets went for the Iroquois, who also died swiftly. America was next, and during mop up action against the Americans I teamed up with the Inca to eliminate the Maya. They died in 790AD, leaving me alone with the Inca. I declared in 800AD and took their last 4 towns in 820AD, giving me a conquest win in 830AD (I was also over the domination limit after I took those 4 towns, but conquest comes before domination in the endgame sequence :) ).

Great game Ainwood! The start was quite challenging....

Time spent: over 42 hours (nearly a quarter was probably waiting for my ancient computer... :( )

Firaxis: 8403
Jason: 10542

On to the COTM 8 pre-game thread....
 
After the debacle that was Conquest 6, I hoped to at least survive this time--and I did so, if you want to call it that.

My QSC went like this:
Production on hand: 26 food, 107 shields, 5 gold.
Territory: 70 squares, 4 towns, 9 people. 6 happy, 3 content.
Units: 2 workers, 5 archers, 4 spears. 2 regs, 7 vets.
Buildings: 3 barracks, 2 walls, grainary, temple.
Techs: All starters + ironworking. 57-59 beakers from Horseback.
Diplomacy: 5 contacts, no embassies

Power rankings: 3% land, 6% people. France has most land, 4%. Rome has most people, 9%. Tied for lead in city culture, Ottomans have most national culture. We have passed Russia. We have 198, Russia has 180. France leads with 262. Germany is in 3rd.

Germany was beating up on Russia early. I was militarily weak, so I was ready to pay tribute if necessary to them.

Things go to hell in 150BC when the Ottomans try to extort from us. They didn't border us, so we refuse, thinking it will be a phony war. What I didn't count on was that Ottomans would drag in Rome in 70BC, and at the turn of the millenium they drag in big bad (at least then) Germany.

Fortunately I had seen an offshore island to the west, and had planned it as my last redoubt. By the time I get a settler and spear over there, France had already grabbed the iron, so I was stuck with the southern tip. Germany made short work of me, taking out my homeland. The island city was all I had left.

I probably would've gotten a better score by dying early, but I would've missed an interesting game. One by one, everyone started dying. France, who wouldn't come to my aid against Germany, was taken out by the Ottomans. Russia, who was beat on by the Germans early, was next. Then Rome, and at the beginning of the industrial age I was priveledged to see Ottoman Sipahi rip through German defenses and eliminate them, with help from Spain. After this demonstration, I will never doubt the power of Sipahi. The Ottomans would then turn on Spain and become masters of the continent.

In the New World, the Americans were the first to die, taken out by the Iroquois and Aztecs. In the late game, the Aztecs got squeezed by Iroquois and Incas. The end left only the Ottomans, Iroquois, Incas, and poor ol' me.

I had managed to plant a few cities in gaps on the mainland, which of course were prone to flipping, but Ottomans turned them down, which I alluded to in this thread . Sorry, no screenies. The Ottomans eventually got fed up and razed them, confining me to my island.

The Ottomans finally ended the festivities with a starship victory in 1932. They also looked close to a cultural win (had the 100K, just short of twice the Iroquois), and had about 57% of land and population. I kept waiting for the Ottomans to land a crusade on the New World, but I was disappointed.

As for me, I was this poor third-world city, researching invention at the end.

But I survived.
 
I did it! I just submit my first Diplo win in 990AD!
More info I will send later now I can say just I reached 11K Jason.:dance:
 
The crowded map caused a lot of wars on both continents. The map was a war generals' madhouse. For long periods I had 4 - 5 messages each interturn saying: "X declared on Y", "Y signed MA with Z", "Z declared on A" and so on. My production was focused on units during the 1st half of the game. I was strong enough militarily to fight the wars I wanted and to not being drawn into conflicts I couldn't handle.

bb-cotm07-5.jpg

Ottomans, Germans, Russians playing OCC!

First turns:
0 Worker N, Settler W
1 Worker W, Settler W
2 Worker mine, Settler N

Founded Vienna, started on Wheel @ 100%, produced 2 warriors for exploration. Between 3650BC and 2630BC I met France, Ottomans, Germany, Russia, Spain, Rome. Several long trading turns including getting, buying and gifting tech. It was my aim to give every tech I get to all in the same turn, no matter if they could pay anything. No tech should be researched twice.
This sub-strategy was compromised by later wars, but, as expected, tech pace in the ancient age was very fast.
Still in despotism, I entered MA in 650BC. One of the scientific civs had researched currency. I gifted the other two, all three getting different techs for free. That was lucky, but I couldn't afford even one of them until later.

bb-cotm07-1.jpg

Seems to be a wrong date on the picture, sorry. Probably a few turns later, around 710BC.

In 800BC France produced TOA, which triggered my war happiness. I attacked in 730BC with a mixed stack of horseman, swords, and archers, capturing Paris. After that incident, everybody else got trigger-happy, too.
In 550BC, the Romans declared because of a rejected extortion of money. Nothing of relevance happened, though, only a few Roman archers were sighted and eliminated.

I made Peace with France in 430BC for their remaining three cities, only Rheims left as their capital between the Ottomans' and the Austrians' land.

Just like in SirPleb's game, some mystical tribe called the Incans were destroyed in 350BC.

In 210BC, Rome signed a MA with Spain. After a 50turn research, I got monarchy, revolting in 190BC for 6 turns. Being in Anarchy, Rome finally got aware that their troops were too weak to even reach my cities and they also drew our strong neighbour Germany on their side.

Now the game was getting exiting! I decided to make an alliance with the Ottomans against the Romans which turned out to be very useful. The Ottomans made a MA with Germany against Rome in 110BC. Both having 2 enemies then, the German forces were diverted across various battlegrounds. In turn I started a decisive campaign on Germany that was nearer than Rome.
OCC player France entered the conflict again in 90BC on behalf of the Germans, whereas Rome and Spain allied against France.

I kept on producing whatever my cities could built. I had absolutely no intention of ending the conflicts with Rome and Germany. Instead, I was building a road to Ottomans to sell them iron. They were expected to help us against Rome and later Spain.

In 270AD, the Russians executed a sneak-attack on Graz, which was answered by a heavy counter-attack from Austria a few decades later. In 370AD, I was able to get Chivalry and a lot of money from the Ottomans for iron. 380AD brought peace with the Germans, giving their last continental cities to Austria, drawing back to an exile on a tundra island in the NE. My stockpiled Army got filled with Knights. A single Roman Longbow from a boat that landed near Vienna is a perfect target to trigger the production of Heroic Epic, which is built by the guidance of a 2nd Leader 1 turn later called "Archduke John".

After making Peace with the Romans I resume research for Gunpowder @ 90%. 570AD Moscow with its GLib is burned to grounds - Austria is still happy with the TOA, they don't have no interest for something like a 'Great Library'. Peace with Russia negotiated after they lost all continental cities.

I planned to push all three scientific Civs from the continental mainland. Germans and Russians each had only an island capital left, but were still in the game for free techs. In 650AD, the war against the Ottomans is prepared through the gift of former Russian city of "Orenburg" on the German tundra island. The Ottoman war starts the turn after.

In the meantime, naval exploration had been unfruitful so far. To great surprise of the Austrian public, the Austrian Navy met an Iroquois galley at the eastern coast of the continent in 720AD. The Austrians are the first to meet them and can gladly exploit their position as a tech/communications broker between the continents. They gain the world map, contacts with all remaining rivals, Chemistry, and huge amounts of cash.

bb-cotm07-3.jpg


In 850AD, Istanbul produced Sun Tzu's to the delight of the Austrian conquerors standing at the city gate. The final retreat of the Ottomans to Orenburg marked the time of peace and the revolt of Austria to become a republic.

Then, Spain was teased until she declared. The troops which just conquered Ottoman cities move on to conquer Spanish assets, getting Magellan's without having navigation on their way to the Spanish core. The TOA is still functional.

The choice of a winning condition became urgent. The Autrians were too late for conquest or domination. The cultural victories were allready tried by some very strong players in the competition. A 2nd histographic would be boring. Continents are also more difficult to conquer and maintain. My early idea of a diplo victory wasn't useful anymore - there were some trade deals broken during the wars. Despite my efforts to keep my reputation clean, gpt deals became more diffcult or impossible for me.

So I decided for Space Race.

In 1010AD, Hussars triggered the GA for Austria, which was mainly used for city improvements like libraries and marketplaces.

The Spanish campaign was stopped when a reasonable border and territorial expansion was reached. No further expansion was neccessary as the cities aquired so far already sharpened the problem of corruption. Sometime before the modern age I switched to democracy.

The Industrial Age was reached in 1545, in coincidence with the production of the ToE, thus enabling Austria to perform a version of "SirPleb's TOE slingshot". Ottomans learned Ecology, Russia and Germany learned Computers. Fission was selected as next research goal, being immediately finished through the TOE. In the 2nd round, Computers was aquired by trading. The research goal was set to Miniaturization, again being immediately discovered through the TOE. Austria started to research Rocketry, then.

bb-cotm07-4.jpg

Austria while entering modern age.

The productive core cities allowed a quick production of Spaceship components, so tech pace was the only obstacle. To achieve a 4-turn research rate, Austria even forced some of their citizens to suffer from famine filling up the libraries and universities and research labs with enough scientists.

THe Iroquois landed a couple of Cavalries that I didn't notice. They made a sneak-attack and destroyed Paris during their turn. One turn later, Iroquois had serious problems with all of their neighors - They had rubber, oil, and a bunch of new techs, and were allied with Austria. I let the other continent fight, pouring oil into the fire here and there throughout my Spaceship building phase.

Once the Iroquois happened to ally with Spain. Spain took three border cities in her initial assault causing immediate war weariness.

A military leader generated during the first counter attacks. I was planning a last prebuilt for the Stasis Chamber but didn't need it because of the ml. War production was increased instead to end war and weariness. Spain was quite reluctant to a peace deal. After reinforcing the borders, Austria razed three cities with a sum of 27 citizens which helped Spain to acknowledge Autria's superiority.

The leader was used to rush the last ship component after researching Robotics in 1725AD. 1730AD, Spaceship victory, 6373 Firaxis score, resulting in 7348 Jason Score.

:wavey: Hopefully, the new resort will be more quiet and peaceful :)
 
PREDATOR

Ancient Ages

After killing the Rome I had to decide how I could play further.
For war against Russia Spain and Ottomans I must build more barraks
and military units but in such case my science rate could be slower.
I choose science. After entering in MA I started reseaching Literature for libraries.
In 1000BC I gift Ottomans and Russia all necessary techs for MA and they got Monoteism and Engineering.
Nobody want to sell me its tech and I decide to start a small war against Russia and get tech for peace.
I captured Rostov and waited for dialog. My estimate was right and
I got not only Monoteism but in addition Engineering. May be Russia changed it with Ottomans.
After that I started researching Teology and other tech from Navigation branch.
Science rate wasn't high because I hadn't enough high developed cities.

My peaceful mood was destroyed by Ottomans in 850BC. They demanded me something and declared when I refused.
I still wan't to build many horseman and I built only several.
With small force (army and several elite archers and horsemans)
I fought several war/peace session against Ottomans and in 50BC I stopped it
previously gifted them my town on the northern island.
I never fight with Spain and traded for tech with she.
I also not war with Russia after that mini-war.
It's reduced my score but this way I coud reach Diplo victory earlier and easy (I thought).
My second GL rushed FP in the Leipzig in 10BC.

In 110BC Incas Galley met me(they built The Great Lighthouse)
and some turns later founded city between my borders and Spain.
After I got Map Making I did several tries to discover the world with galleys and further caravels
but barbs killed its very fast and only in 30BC I crossed ocean and reached other continent.
I have time for meeting Aztecs, Iroquois and Americans before my caravel was killed by barbs.
I met Maya many times later, but I can see their territory.

In 10AD I discovered Navigation and switched to the another branch.
I traded from Spain Feudalism and Invention so I started Gunpowder.
My science rate was grown but I not researched at max because wanted to save money for horseman's upgrade.
In 320AD I built Leonardo's and Copernicus and in 330AD discovered Military Tradition.
After that I started upgrading and preparing to war on the other continent.

In 480AD I entered in IA (Banking from Inca).
I again gifted Russia and Ottomans and they got Medicine and Steam Power.
With very hard trading I bought its and started Electricity.
Next turn I began war against Iroquois and triggered GA.
At this moment I have many libraries and universities and went cross IA with 4-5 turns per tech. At first I discovered Electricity, then Replaced Parts, Industrialisation, Scientific Methods, Atomic theory and so on.

My wars on the other continent pursued next goals:
1) Capture 3 luxuries;
2) Expand my borders to the Domination limit.
My first target was Iroquois because they was small but secured all luxuries and I invaded with 29 Hussars.
I can't use ROP abuse because go to Diplo and I made alliance with Americans against Iroquois.

Second target I thought could be Aztecs because they have Pyramids
but after I captured first 2 cities (attack from Aztecs territory)
the stack of american swordsmens sneak attacked me!
After that I made alliance with Inca, Aztecs and Maya against Iroquois and Americans.
My force went in front of Aztecs and Incas military and captured all cities.
After I saw how much force has Aztecs I understood how I was lucky not to fought against them first.
I really wan't to war with them.
In 500AD Vienna built Newtons.
In 540AD I killed Iroquois and in 590AD Americans.
After that I went to the Maya.
Before this wars I built Heroic Epic and GL popped very fast: I got 4 in hole and 2 in one turn!
I built 3 armies and Pentagon.
Maya was weak and I ended them in 710AD.
After that I had more then 150 tiles from domination but decided not war further.
I rushed some temples and fouded many new cities for pressing Aztecs borders
and in 980AD had (by error planning) 0 tiles left but no Domination!?
Usually I use CivAssist but MapStat(CivReplay) reported 1 tiles left. I think it's more correct.
And in 990AD I built Darwin's, got Flight and Fission, declared war to Aztecs and made alliance against them.
Then I swithed prebuilt Palace to UN and got Diplomatic win.
I missed Sanitation and my cities never grown above 12.
May be it was mistake but I want speed up my game because haven't time.

If I play for Domination I think I could win before 400AD with Knights and got more points.
I think I will not win this COTM but I reached my goal and happy with it.
 
Dynamic said:
And in 990AD I built Darwin's, got Flight and Fission, declared war to Aztecs and made alliance against them.
Then I swithed prebuilt Palace to UN and got Diplomatic win ... If I play for Domination I think I could win before 400AD with Knights and got more points.

:eek:

I wouldn't worry too much about the points, Dynamic. Gold medals are very impressive, but so is a pre-1000ad Diplomatic win--to say the very least. Spectacular game!
 
Any Diplo victory before 1100AD is truely impressive, congrats!

One question: Do I see that correctly, and in your game the Civs on our landmass reached MA around 1000BC :eek:?
In my game, they were constantly beating on each others, with nobody making it into MA before 0AD...now I see why the tech pace in my game was so delayed.
 
bradleyfeanor said:
:eek:

I wouldn't worry too much about the points, Dynamic. Gold medals are very impressive, but so is a pre-1000ad Diplomatic win--to say the very least. Spectacular game!

Thank you for compliment!
Before this game I didn't pay attention to how early other players have their Diplomatic victories. Now you talk me about my early win but I remember the best Diplo date from Jason calculator of last games are very early. Most of them are around 700AD. I don't know what Diplo best date will be in this month but I expect it will be much early then my. :(

May be my attention to score is too much, sorry. I only want to know whether the player can win with Diplo, Space and other type of win instead of Domination/Conquest? Very much discussions there were about this but the best way to check it is to try its all myself. :rolleyes:
 
Sorry, calculator was updated. Now best Diplo date is 890AD. Well, not so early as I thought. As I wrote I got Fission from Darwin's. I expected Russia and Ottomans may wan't to sell me Fission and I must research it myself in that case. Theoretically if I had better relations with them I could try to get Motorized Transportation and Flight from Darwin's and get Fission from one of scientific civs. But I doubt on it and didn't go this way. :rolleyes:
 
Doc Tsiolkovski said:
One question: Do I see that correctly, and in your game the Civs on our landmass reached MA around 1000BC :eek:?
In my game, they were constantly beating on each others, with nobody making it into MA before 0AD...now I see why the tech pace in my game was so delayed.

Yes, in my game Ottomans went the Math-Construction way, I go to Republic then Currency, Spain got Polytheism. Now I not remember who got Map Making but I also trade for it. For speed up science I often gifted to other civs Republic. In this game I also did it but I think it wasn't matter for fast MA.

You are right, I saw the last games results: Diplo victory is usually around 1100AD.
 
And finnaly: I simply went by the optimal way for this civilization and map specifics. Crowed map, militaristic and industrial treits, pure food resource pushed me to forest chopping and early war for the place under sun... :mischief:
 
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